AUDACITY OF INTEGRITY IN A DEN OF CORRUPTION

Integrity, it has been said, is choosing courage over corruption; and, that choice has to be an integral part of our culture…and, conscience!

“ಹೆಬ್ಬೆಟ್ ರಾಮಕ್ಕ” (‘Hebbet Ramakka’, which translates loosely to ‘Thumb Ramakka’) is a 2018 Kannada film; it was critically and commercially a mixed bag. The political drama though won a few laurels including the national award.

Kalleshi (Devaraj), a small-time government contractor, struggles to make both ends meet because of rampant corruption. The fella grovels abjectly before authority to get his bills paid. His wife, Ramakka (Tara) is a diligent homemaker and the backbone of the family, which has two school-going children.

One day opportunity comes knocking Kalleshi’s way; he props up his illiterate wife as a ruling party candidate for the local election and gets her appointed as the president. His obvious plan is to serve as a proxy for naive Ramakka and to become a crony, power broker.

How does the plan pan out then?

Written and directed by NR Nanjundegowda, the film is an endorsement for women emancipation. While the first half is brilliant, the political machinations in the latter half are poorly narrated― in the result, the message loses some of its sheen and the impact becomes weak, watered down.

The dialogues of SG Siddaramaiah are refreshingly rustic. The background score of Poornachandra Tejaswi is atypically folklorish.

The film features Tara and Devaraj in the lead roles; both versatile actors have produced powerhouse performances. The dialogues and the barrage of proverbs and pithy sayings therein lend gravity to the portrayals. Despite its non-commercial narrative, the flick regales, even as it inspires the viewer.

I rate this political drama: 7.0 on 10!